please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
About 7 years ago I had a girlfriend in rickmansworth and we used to frequent both the artichoke and the coach and horses a 100yds away on the green both good pubs. Village green sort of pubs as you would expect. NOW
plastic plam trees pool tables dirty glasses horrendous.Is the landlord trying to shut the pubs for expensive housing or just inept.
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I've recently moved back to Croxley after 10 long years away (everyone comes back don't they?) and I was very much looking forward to visiting one of my old haunts, The Artichoke on The Green
There are (were) not many things better in this life than relaxing out on the green with a cold pint, cheerfully served, and enjoying the view and watching Croxley go about it's business. But WOW, what a difference 10 years make. It's absolutely shocking.
The interior has been ruined, the new decking to the front is cheap, tacky and nasty, without mentioning the hideous tropical plants. It's rarely open, and there's a POOL table inside where the regular old soaks used to sit and spend money. No they've clearly been scared away, does a pool table make up for their revenue? Of course not. Our pint glasses were dirty and the choice of beer poor. How can the authorities let such a beautiful LISTED building be treated with such obvious contempt?
I asked the nice girl behind the bar where all the customers were (it was fairly mild, overcast but sunny, in the old days it would have been 3 deep at the bar minimum), she was adamant that the pub had always been quiet, even though I tried to assure her it used to be rammed to the leaky rafters day and night.
I suggest the current incumbent has very little idea in the way of customer service, or idea of how to run a pub. Please Mr current Manager, do the decent thing and find someone who knows how to run and take care of such an historical hostelry.
The nice couple who run The Sportsman down the road must be rubbing their hands together.
How very, very sad.
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What a shame. This is a lovely historic pub in a glorious location on The Green in Croxley Green. Unfortunately, the pub is owned by the same guy who owns the Coach & Horses 200 yards up the road and he has ruined it (well both of them actually).
He has placed palm trees outside the pub, which don't exactly blend in with the Country setting, and ruined the traditional interior. There is only ever one Real Ale on sale (that is always Bombadier) and that's if you are lucky! You will more than likely be served by a young bar maid who knows very little about serving Real Ale.
Unfortunately as both the Artichoke & the Coach & Horses are owned by the same person there is no competition and the Artichoke is going downhill at an alarming rate. I presume he won't sell it as the new owners will probably do a decent job, put in a choice of Real Ales, change the decor back to traditional and take customers away from his other pub.
I don't know if they still serve food but if they do it would have been cooked at the Coach & Horses and literally walked down The Green to the Artichoke only to miraculously appear from the Artichoke kitchen!
Do yourself a favour go to the Sportsman or as previosly mentioned drive on to Sarratt or Chipperfield.
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Agree with all the above, My husband and I stopped on our mothorbikes on the way through croxley green (where i grew up ahhh) only to be ignored at the bar and look upon as scum in biker gear.....my bike cost twice as much as the ford escorts and fiesta chav cars parked outside. Hell of a lot faster as well!!!
We wont be going back, a real sham he bought both, years ago they were owned by 2 different guys and were very different at least that gave people a choice. Drive on to Sarrat green or Chipperfield much more choice.
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I keep making this mistake thinking its going to be nice and every time I regret going. Staff are really unfriendly, When you order drinks they seem to want to serve their friends with a smile, but give you that look of why are you bothering me.
Probably as bad as that gaff by the tube station. The second worst pub in the village! Also that atmosphere isnt very relaxed, lots of very moody customers.
If I were you, dont bother.
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There is nothing like good taste and this is nothing like good taste!!!
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ooh I agree with some of the posters here.. this was a lovely traditional pub..looks ok still outside but inside its gross... and the staff are daft. they used to be really nice friendly people before.. what happened?? it was always busy so why change a good thing (for the worse) if its run by the guy that owns the pub a few yards away no wonder, since that is a chav infested scumhole...
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Having visited in excess of 2500 pubs I can honestly say the new owner has the worst taste ever! Traditional pub ruined by bright purple plum paint work & mirrors inside. Used to be great. Same guy runs the Coach and Horses up the road which he's ruined as well!
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What a disappointment. The pub used to be good, with a decent range of beer. Only IPA (Greene King sadly) and Bombardier remain. The customers seem to have gone downhill as well. Bad news really, hopefully it will get better.
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Went there on a Saturday night, lovely pub right on the village green. No guest ales, bombardier was off leaving just the IPA on the ale front. In view of this I hit the Stella (marvelous pint) and after 8 stumbled off to catch the bus.
Noticed a couple of old fire places that looked as if they're well used, so I would imagine it'll be nice and cosey in the winter. I will definitely be going back soon!
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Nice pub, just the IPA and Bombardier on when we went but looks like they might have more sometimes.
Friendly staff
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One of my favoutite pubs. recently noticed the jukebox, clean, good beer and live music. good laugh on a saturday night. However there can be a lot of rabble getting pissed up here before they hit the bars and clubs of watford. This is the only thing that spoils it a bit for me. However its brilliant for sitting on the green with a pint on summer afternoons/evenings and lapping up the atmosphere.
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Much improved with Pete and Jo running the place! Agree with other comments though, needs more ales! At least its clean these days!
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Recently changed hands again - well, leasewise anyway - much improved lager and wine selection, same old IPA, Bombardier, etc on the ale front. New management friendly, smartly dressed and welcoming (which is much more than can be said of the last licensee).
Other than that I agree with everything written below - with a bit of effort could be a fantastic boozer.
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WENT HERE YEARS AGO, VERY NICE YOUNG COUPLE RUNNING IT,JOHN I THINK? HAD SOME GOOD ALE ON 2 REG AND 2 GUEST ALL SERVED WITH LOVE, THEN WENT BACK NOT SO LONG AGO THE JOHN HAS GONE, ALONG WITH THE GOOD ALES, AS SPACEDZ SAID IT COULD BE A GOOD PUB!
MAY RETURN.
anonymous - 29 Aug 2006 12:33 |
Anon, kids are welcome until 6pm in the conservatory area.
Real ale hasn't changed since spacedz's visit in March, still just Bombardier and IPA.
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Has anyone taken kids to this pub and are they welcome?
anonymous - 1 Jun 2006 02:16 |
Perfect location on the village green, with seats out the front and in the very nice garden to the side. Huge potential to be a classic, however...
But the beer selection isn't great, standard for the area with the likes of Greene King IPA and Bombardier. If you're lucky there may be a guest beer. In the summer Youngs' Golden Zest (v.nice) was on, but the regular beers aren't great and I've had a few undrinkably conditioned (basically off) ones in the past. If they improved the beer selection and quality this would be a great pub, but as it is there's little reason to visit unless you happen to be walking past in the summer and fancy a cold pint of lager.
Keep me posted if they improve the real ale on offer.
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Nice location on Croxley Green. Used to go here for a pub lunch when I worked in Croxley.
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does anyone remember adrian and helen pearce that used to run the artichoke about 10years ago? are they still there? do you know where they`ve gone? would be great to get some news, mikeSWANSEA
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Food is V good too! Nice fires in the winter.
Scott - 1 Oct 2004 06:11 |
Quiet, homely and cosy in the winter months; packed inside and out (Pub fronts The Green in Croxley, plenty of space to relax) in the summer months. Popular with young & old. Great to sit out the front and watch the world go by.
Jimbo - 1 Jul 2004 10:40 |
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